Former Scotland and Lions fly-half Gregor Townsend has joined the Scotland national team as backs coach for the 2009 Six Nations.

Townsend joins up with Frank Hadden's coaching team as a replacement for Glagow boss Sean Lineen, who filled the position during Scotland's summer tour to Argentina and the recent autumn internationals before returning full time to coach the Warriors.

"I'm delighted to have been invited by Frank Hadden to become backs coach for this year's Six Nations," said Townsend, who won 82 caps for Scotland and won Test caps on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 1997. "I can't wait to get started working with the players and the challenge of getting them to perform consistently at their best level."

Scotland's Six Nations campaign gets underway at Murrayfield on February 8, when Grand Slam champions Wales are the visitors. Townsend will work alongside Head Coach Frank Hadden and his assistant coaches Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman. Lineen and his Edinburgh counterpart Andy Robinson will continue to be involved in national team selection. Townsend has been promoted after good work in his positions with Edinburgh and Scotland A.

"Gregor has already made a considerable impact in working with the players at Edinburgh and Scotland," said Head Coach Frank Hadden. "I think it significant too with all Gregor's experience as a player that he will be able to offer one-on-one advice to Scotland players and that insight can only be valuable especially in the year of a British and Irish Lions tour."